Clare Turnbull appointed New Principal of Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai as School strengthens Links and Culture with Founding UK School

Following news shared with RGS Guildford parents today, it has been confirmed that Mrs Clare Turnbull has been appointed the new Principal of Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai with immediate effect.

Mrs Turnbull was instrumental in establishing RGS Guildford in Dubai, transferring directly from RGS in the UK and leading the development of the premium Tier 1 school throughout all its formative stages. Hugely loved and respected at the school, she has been responsible for ensuring that all of the UK school’s values and ambition for children transferred to the Dubai school.

The decision has been welcomed by families and the broader school community. She brings with her more than 16 years of leadership experience from Royal Grammar School Guildford UK, latterly as Head of Prep. Ms Turnbull was already seen as instrumental in the development of the school and now takes over the complete running of a school we rank Outstanding.

She replaces the outgoing Principal, Craig Lamshed, who steered the school through the initial launch and the more administrative, technical aspects of seeing a UK school established in Dubai. With the school now firmly established, the fundamentals of delivering on the substance of one of the world’s most respected school brands, including its culture, curriculum, links with the UK school and care of children, Mrs Turnbull was the clear and, in our view, rightful choice for school leadership to take the school forward.

Dr. Jon Cox, writing in his role as Chairman of the Board of Governors – RGS Guildford Dubai said:

“Mrs Turnbull has brought academic excellence and a real understanding of the RGS values, culture and learning habits with her, truly embodying the very special ethos that has underpinned the Royal Grammar School Guildford in the UK for over 500 years.”

The transfer to new leadership is expected to be seamless. Dr Cox continues:

“Mrs Turnbull has already started the handover process at RGSGD and continues to work closely with myself and the Board of Governors to ensure a smooth transition and deliver excellence across all areas of the school.”

The SchoolsCompared View

This is a really good decision for RGS Guildford Dubai.

One of the real challenges of bringing a sister school from overseas to the UAE, is to ensure that the founding school’s values, identity and achievements are carried across and maintained. RGS was never about franchising a brand – but, rather, about the substance of building a genuine and powerhouse sister to the UK school in Dubai. We have seen in Mrs Turnbull throughout the opening of the new school a leader who has delivered on that vision with credibility – and inspirationally.

There is no one better placed than Mrs Turnbull to ensure that the UAE school reflects those values and history of the founding sister school so valued by Dubai parents – her role in the UK was significant and meaningful. We know from many conversations with the school that her loss was really felt in the UK – and for parents at the Dubai school, who are buying into a great British institution, her appointment has been welcomed.

Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai was the recipient of the 2020 SchoolsCompared.com Top Schools Award for Best Architecture in a UAE school.

You can read our review of Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai here.

Visit the official web site of Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai here.

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